ghirardelli.

One night we took the bus down to Ghirardelli Square for some dessert. 

Picture above, waiting for the bus {I forgot my camera so these are all cell phone pictures}.

I learned that Lauren is a dark chocolate girl!  The calories in our desserts were totally worth it!

Gregg is always talking about Doner kebabs from his mission {to the Netherlands}.  Nate is headed to the Netherlands this week for a business trip so we decided to see if San Fran had a good restaurant that made doner kebabs.  I liked what I got, but Gregg said the doner kebabs are better in Amsterdam!   

{my meal - I can't remember what is was called - lamb with mozzarella ...}

...and, the famous "Bob's Donuts." Donuts are my down fall - I can not say no to a good donut!  We bought this huge donut to take to my cousin Abe.

Nate and Lauren's apartment building - right down town.

pier 39.

Nate and Lauren took us to a restaurant they have been wanting to try "The Stinking Rose"  - it was fantastic - look it up next time you are in San Francisco.

Garlic everywhere in the decor. 

After dinner we walked down to Fisherman's Wharf.

You can't go to San Francisco with out going to Pier 39. 

They had a store at the pier that sold ONLY LEFT HANDED STUFF!  They were closing so I had to beg them to let me in - I knocked on the door and said "I am left handed, I have to buy something"
I have always said I was going to open a left handed only store - but it looks like someone already took my idea.  I did buy some left handed playing cards.  I can not wait to use them!!!
{if you were left handed you would realize what a handicap it really is}.

funny.

I saw this and had to post it - kind of funny!

Asparagus Risotto

Asparagus Risotto

1 pound asparaguse, trimmed and cut into bite size pieces

1 tablespoon butter

3 small shallots, minced

1 cup uncooked arborio rice {has to be arborio rice}

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

4 cups chicken broth

1/3 grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Fill a large bowl with ice water.  Add asparagus to pot; blanch for 2 minutes.  Immediately remove asparagus from pot and place them into ice water {stop them from cooking and help retain their bright green color}.

Coat a medum pot with cooking spray and set over medum heat; melt butter.  Add shallotsl cook, stirring requently, until translucent, about 5-7 minutes.  Add rice and toss to coat; cook for 2 minutes.  Add lemon juice; cook, until all lemon juice has been absorbed, stirring continuously so rice does not stick to sides of pot, about 1 minute.

Meanwhile, bring brother to a simmer; keep warm.

Add ½ cup of hot broth to pot at a time to the medium pot with the rice; stir until absorbed.  Repeat with remaining broth, making sure each addition of broth is absorbed before adding more.  This process takes about 20 minutes.

When rice turn creamy and just done {should be slightly chewy and not mushy}, remove pot from heat; add cheese and stir well.  Stir in asparagus; season with salt and pepper.  Yields 2 scant cup per serving.

*Add in grilled or baked chicken to make it a more complete meal.  Very, very good flavor.

Buffalo Sliders

Buffalo Chicken {or Turkey} Sliders

2 onion, finely chopped

1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

1 pound ground chicken {or turkey}

2 tablespoons Buffalo wing sauce

8 mini whole – wheat buns

8 green-leaf lettuce leaves

8 tomato slices

2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese

Spray large nonstick skillet or ridged grill pan with nonstick spray and set over medium heat.  Add onion, red bell pepper, and garlic, cook covered stirring occasionally until liquid is evaporated and vegetables are very tender, about 8 minutes.

Transfer to large bowl and let cool 10 minutes.  Add chicken breast, buffalo wing sauce, and salt; mix well.  With we hands, form into 8 patties.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 1 hour.

Spray skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-low heat – cook patties until desired doneness {or grill them}.

Serve on buns with lettuce, tomatoes and blue cheese.

Spring Goat Cheese Salad

Spring Salad with Strawberries and Goat Cheese

3 tablespoons orange juice

1 tablespoon oil

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

4 cups mixed greens (spinach or

1 cup sliced strawberries

¼ cup crumbled goat cheese

2 tablespoons salted dry-roasted pistachio nuts, chopped

In a cup, stir together juice, oil, vinegar, pepper, salt; set aside.

Arrange mixed greens in a large shallow bowl; top with strawberries, cheese, and nuts.  Just before serving, stir 
dressing and drizzle over salad; toss gently but well.  Yields about 1 ¼ cups per serving.

Chicken Salad

Chicken salad with pineapple-lime dressing

1 teaspoon lime zest

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 teaspoons minced shallots

1 ½ teaspoons honey

¾ to 1 teaspoons minced habanera chile

6 tablespoons olive oil

¼ cup finely chopped pineapple

1 bunch watercress, thick ends trimmed (or arugula)

5 ounces baby spinach

1/3 cup toasted cashews

¾  pound cooked chicken, shredded

Salt and pepper

In a large bowl which together lime zest and juice, shallot, honey and chile.  Add oil and whisk until combined.  Season with salt and pepper and stir in pineapple.  Add watercress, spinach, cashews, and chicken: toss until greens are coated with dressing

375 Calories

28g Fat

21g Protein

12g Carbohydrates

2g Fiber

Greek Salad

Greek Salad with Chickpeas

½ cup red onion

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cucumber

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

½ cup crumbled feta cheese

½ cup Kalamata olives

½ cup fresh parsley

Salt and pepper

In a large bowl combine onion, lemon juice and oil and season with salt and pepper.  Toss well to combine and let sit 5 minutes.  Add cucumber, tomatoes, feta, chickpeas, olives, and parsley; seson with salt and pepper and toss to combine.  Serves 4

306 calories

16g fat

9g protein

34g carb

6g fiber

Coconut-Lime Berry Cake

Coconut-Lime Berry Cake

¾ cup unsalted butter

1 ¾ cup flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon coarse salt

1 cup packed sweetened shredded coconut

1 cup sugar

3 large eggs

¾ cup buttermilk

2 teaspoons lime zest

2 tablespoons lime juice

3 cups mixed berries (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries}

3 tablespoons orange juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter and flour a 9x13 pan.  In a large bowl, whisk together 1 ¾ cup flour, baking powder, salt and coconut.  In another bowl using an electric mixer, beat butter and 1 cup sugar on high, scraping down the bowl as needed until light and fluffy, 4 minutes.  Add egg, one at a time and beat until combined.  With mixer on low, add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with two additions buttermilk, and beat until combined.  Stir in lime zest and juice.  Pour batter into dish.

In a medium bowl, toss together 1 tablespoon flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, berries and orange juice.  Scatter berry mixture over batter.  Bake until cake is golden at edges and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.

332 Calories

16g Fat

5g Protein

43g Carbohydrates

2g Fiber

hair cut.

Bodie had his first hair cut today - 13 weeks old.  I didn't like all the long wispy baby hairs so I trimmed them down to be the same length as his new hair that is growing in!

girls camp.

This is where I am all week...

 ...with these cute girls.

bodie has a name.

Today Gregg blessed Bodie at church.  He did a really nice job and Bodie was good too {you know, no crying during the prayer}!  We had some family and friends come to support.

Grandpa Simons

Chris, Tara, Presley and Stella McGown

Brad and Amber Simons

Becka and Lincoln Cragun

Grandpa and Grandma Quinn

McKay Quinn

Aaron, Tiffany, Addie, Quinn, Enoch, Jean and Anna Hopkinson

Jake, April, Dallin and Mackenzine Trent

Tessa Dahl {one of my high school friends}

Brandon, Tami, Gabrielle and Tabitha Fife

Scott, Kristi, Tyler, Reese and Annabelle Phillips

And Dave McMaster from our bishopric also stood in the circle.

Bodie's middle name is Robert after his Grandpa Simons {Robert Keith Simons}.  We hope he will have a close relationship with his grandpa and follow his example of righteous living {Robert happens to also be Gregg's middle name and my dad's middle name}.

Thanks Tara for taking our family photo - Truman was already out of his Sunday clothes - he's two, can you blame him!  Bodie is concentrating on the poopy diaper he has on in this photo :)

Addie's Baptism.

Adelaide Hopkinson was baptized today.  It was a very nice occasion!
It kind of made me feel old.  Addie was born while I was on my mission and I missed my little brother McKay's baptism because he was baptized while I was on my mission.  I am old.

Addie, Aaron and Tiffany.

We looked and looked and looked for a picture of Tiffany on her baptism day but we can not find it.  I wanted to compare.  I think Addie looks like a little Tiff - except Tiff had an awesome 80's mullet that I was totally jealous of!

Congratulations Addie - thanks for setting a great example to all the little cousins - Truman idolizes you and could not stop talking about Addie "going all the way under the water and blowing bubbles"

famous.

Yes - this is me and my siblings on my brother Nathans' wedding day + one.

The photographer Brody Dezember was commenting on how we needed one more sibling so our picture was symmetrical so he jumped in the photo and his assistant took this photo.

It is now on the front page of his web site :)

{Brody, Dallin, me, Nathan, Tiffany, McKay and Anthony}

PS- when Gregg saw this photo he said, "where am I?"

ER.

We had our first trip to the ER for stitches last night.  I am sure with two boys it will not be our last.

We were outside grilling some dinner when Truman decided he wanted to go to the golf course.  With his green golf club and a ball in hand he started to wounder down our landscaping rocks toward the golf course.  I had just stepped inside to get some stuff and Gregg was standing at the grill - Truman fell about 5 feet down some large landscaping rocks and landed on his back.  He didn't cry that much considering the fall - and his head did not bleed that bad - but - after a second opinion from aunt Tara we decided to take him in to the doctor.

Waiting in the ER.  Truman was hiding under his blanket from the other patrons.

 Waiting for the numbing cream to work its magic - watching a movie on the iPad {the iPad is great for so many things!}

 Ouch! {these are all cell phone pictures so the quality is not great}

The worst part was when Gregg and I had to told Truman down on the table so the doctor could stitch him up.  Four stitches and $175 later we were on our way to McDonald's for some fries.

This is what his head looks like this morning.  He keeps complaining that it hurts.

And, a bonus random picture that was on my cell phone - Truman taking a nap in uncle McKay's bed!